Little Book, Big Messages. A young girl's adventures in art, music and dance lead to discoveries in friendship, responsibility and a new art form. Read "The Painting Ballerina" and become a paint-dancer!

CHILDRENS LITERATURESecret talking animals and a strong desire to dance make this a magical summer for Katrina. Arriving at her family's little house by the sea for summer vacation, Katrina settles in for just another typical day. She decides to eat her lunch down by the beach, but this was not to be an average afternoon. There she makes friends with some very unusual animals and discovers a talent she never knew she had--paint dancing. She twirls, slides and leaps across the canvas to create her own unusual design, but will the people at the village market find her paintings of any value? This is an amusing little chapter book that allows imaginations to run wild! --Sharon Tolle, Reviewer

TESTIMONIALNo school, library, parent, teacher or art lover should be without a copy of THE PAINTING BALLERINA by Gloria Buono. I pass a paint store each day on my way to work and now see the cans of paint inviting Katrina to dance. This book teaches positive values without preaching, and will delight children of all ages. The wording alone conveys the colors throughout: "Wheat-colored waves...Butter-soft leather shoes...etc." Katrina's creativity extends to giving her animal friends new names, and getting a taste of foreign languages from a pilot art dealer. Those children who had Buono as a substitute teacher in the Yonkers school system are indeed lucky. How many of them have joined Katrina as she pivots and glides into their hearts.--Janet Riesen, International award-winning author

THE BOOK READERCurious children need curious books filled with creativeness and joyfulness. This is a great gift for the child who knows the impossible is totally probable. Buono has written a cheerful story about a new art form, and she's populated the story with captivating animals and one enchanting girl, Katrina...The vivid drawings and the living words in this book shine as they creatively illuminate a world of endless possibly.--THE BOOK READER

Thank you dear Gloria!! Your Painting Ballerina has re-inspired me to continue on with my 'Come Fly With Me' series (10 thus far) ... I have used the talking animals beauty in a few of them too. Predominantly the stories are about using the imagination ... Why walk when you can fly? Two are posted on my den!
Love and flourishing Haikus to you too!!
Suzie xox :-D

G.B.'s work is a beautiful literary model for children. It is not only a book about values, it is a book that will teach children to love language and explore the sounds of words put together with a flow and energy.
Go on Gloria, put that yin/yang to use!
Mucho kudos!